Operations Resource Management Platform for Manufacturing Consultants

The consultant repeatedly observed the same problem across clients: manufacturing operations were spread across multiple disconnected tools, none of which covered the full workflow. Existing tools either lacked QR scanning for item dispatching, did not support the role-based access control needed for shop floor operations, or were too rigid to adapt to each manufacturer's specific processes. qLoota consolidates resource management, item tracking, QR-based dispatching, and role-based access into a single web platform - purpose-built for the specific needs of manufacturing operations teams.

1. 01

   The consultant's manufacturing clients were using multiple disconnected tools for operations management, each covering only part of the workflow. No single platform provided QR scanning, resource tracking, role-based access, and operations management in one place. The existing tools were not customizable enough to fit the specific processes of different manufacturing environments.

2. 02

   Designing a platform that could serve both the consultant (managing multiple client accounts) and the manufacturing teams (performing daily operations). The interface needed to make complex resource relationships - items, locations, categories, statuses - navigable and manageable without training for floor workers.

3. 03

   Building a resource management system with deeply nested data relationships (items, materials, locations, categories, statuses) while keeping the interface fast and the QR scanning reliable for item dispatching on the manufacturing floor. The system needed to support QR code generation, printing, and scanning within the same platform.

• Admin panel for platform management

  The consultant manages tenants, users, and shared resources across all client manufacturers from one back-end.

• Email user authentication

  Email and password sign-in with admin-controlled provisioning, the simplest path that fits the consultant's onboarding flow.

• QR code scanning and printing for item dispatching

  Generate QR codes for items, print them inline, and scan them on the floor to dispatch — all inside the same system, no third-party app.

• Resource management with complex CRUD relationships

  Items, materials, locations, categories, and statuses modeled as nested relationships — flexible enough for different manufacturing setups.

• Role-based access control for multi-level users

  Consultants, plant managers, and floor operators each see a different slice of the data, enforced server-side.

• Web platform deployed to production server

  React.js front end backed by Node.js, Nest.js, and PostgreSQL — deployed and running in production for daily operations use.

• Multi-client

  Platform serving multiple manufacturing companies through the consultant's practice

• 100%

  QR scanning and printing working reliably for item dispatching on manufacturing floors

• 50%

  Reduction in time spent switching between tools for daily operations management tasks

• 1 platform

  Replaced multiple disconnected tools with a single purpose-built operations management system

1. 1
   Step 1 / 4

   Worked with the consultant to document the operational workflows of his manufacturing clients - identifying where existing tools fell short and which features would deliver the most impact. Leveraged our experience with similar resource management platforms to provide free mockups that accelerated the scoping process.

2. 2
   Step 2 / 4

   Designed the platform for two user types: the consultant managing multiple client accounts, and manufacturing floor workers performing daily operations. Prioritized fast access to QR scanning, clear resource views, and simple navigation for users with limited technical experience.

3. 3
   Step 3 / 4

   Built the platform with React.js and Nest.js, implementing complex resource management with nested relationships, QR code generation and scanning, role-based access control, and an admin panel. Used PostgreSQL for structured data that supports the complex resource hierarchies.

4. 4
   Step 4 / 4

   Tested QR scanning across manufacturing environments (varying lighting, device types), validated data integrity across complex resource operations, and deployed to production with the consultant's first client accounts active.